The best part about being in Paris to me is exploring it, with Shah. It's just not the same doing it by myself, it's just less fun. So when Saturday came, i was really happy!
We only have one plan for Saturday: window-shopping! But as some of you knew, i'm not very good at window-shopping. I somehow always end up throwing the word "window" out of the equation. But more on that later.
The train is our best friend now. It's absolutely necessary to get used to the public transportation here. I'm still quite clueless about the different routes. Looking at the map doesn't help that much. One must wonder how i survived my Geology degree.
Before we took the train, we passed by a McD in the station. I stopped short at the sight of its McCafe. I remember being excited when i discovered McCafes in New Zealand. But sorry people, NZ's McCafes don't hold a candle to Paris' ones. The ones here look like cosy patisseries (not this one though, it is after all in a dingy underground place. but just concentrate on its offerings yeh?).
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| Macarons by McDonald's, OK. No biggie to Parisians, macarons |
Shah and i went in, and i was looking around for a good handbag. I wanted a Marc Jacobs, but Shah was all, why come to Paris if you're going to get an American handbag, get one from a French brand. I would love to get a Stam, but Shah thinks this red oversized handbag from Chloe is perfect for me. We didn't find anything that we could agree on, and besides, i would have to be absolutely, POSITIVELY sure that i want to get a bag that's THAT expensive. Or else i won't buy it at all. I mean, what if i wear it for a week and decide to want another branded bag? Because branded or non-branded, i'm very flaky about handbags, i constantly change handbags so i guess if you ask me "Five handbags or one good, expensive one?", i would say "FIVE!!!".
That being said, i have to admit, buying the red Chloe makes more sense than the Marc Jacobs. If i ever get to go to the US to visit my future niece, then here comes me, Marc Jacobs!
By the way, i was really surprised to see how most of the bags are being displayed. They display handbags just like in Parkson Grand, Jusco and stores like those. Just out in the open. Balenciaga had their bags on counters, and Shah picked up the cutest miniature Motorcycle-like one to inspect. I just looked briefly and walked on, and that was when Shah said, "Liyana, bila lagi you nak pegang handbag Balenciaga freely macam ni? Touch them!". I guess he knew that i was apprehensive, when i didn't even know it. But i did touch them (and model them a bit), in the end, hah hah.
I would say the majority of people shopping here are foreigners. Loads of Asians too. They patiently queued outside Miu Miu, Chanel and other more "private" stores.
There is a sweet little cafe right at the entrance of Printemps Mode, called Cafe Pouchkine. There was quite a line there, and Shah went to take some photos of it.
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| Yep, more macarons. So PRETTY though, right? |
Shah and i are not entirely sure if all macarons are alcohol-free here, so for now we are steering clear of them. They most probably are, but just in case. I do want to try some macarons from Laduree, a famous cafe here in Paris, they seem to be legendary!
We didn't really explore all of Printemps, as we got spooked by the prices halfway, or probably quarter way through. So i said, "Let's go to H&M now!" (typical me).
I know KL now has H&M, but when do i ever go to Lot 10? Almost never. I've been once and when i was like 9, i think.
It was a flurry of activities in there. People EVERYWHERE. Some people just try tops on the floor instead of going to the fitting room, they just shrug it on on top of whatever they're wearing. I went through every corner, but i found it hard to find something that i really, really like. My taste has dramatically changed since wearing tudung. The important criterias: leher mesti takleh besar sangat, mesti long sleeve and material tak tebal sangat. I'm a layering type of girl, so when i'm in cold weather, i layer layers. Many layers, instead of wearing one top and covering up with a thick jacket on top. By the way, yes, i totes mengaku, i totally, and MEMANG tak tahan sejuk. Never had. I mean, i can tahan, of course, how else did i survive in Christchurch for four and a half yearsss. But i definitely dislike low temperatures, no question. I would take Malaysia's weather over winter any time. And it's not even winter yet.
I simply couldn't decide what to get, so we took a break from H&M. Across the road is Zara. I instantly missed my sister Fiza, because she's obsessed with Zara.
It was chaotic in Zara. I've never seen any Zara in Malaysia like that, even during sales. There clothes all over the floor, even. People of all ages shop in Zara too, whereas in Malaysia, you get the young women crowd, and you rarely see makciks there. But not here; here, there are makciks everywhere inside, which i find refreshing. Because obviously Zara offers classic outfits that everyone of all ages can wear, now that i think about it. Also, like Shah said, makciks here are more stylo than makciks in Malaysia. Some are even more styled than people my age. Very interesting to see. I didn't leave with anything, as i wasn't Zara's biggest fan. Shah did find a flower-print jeans that he would love for me to have, but i think i would want to have a proper look around before "committing".
Only after that did we finally get to Lafayette.
Again, too many people inside. Mostly tourists though, again, loads of Asians. We went inside for a bit only, and then we decided to go somewhere else. We didn't even get to see the huge dome-shaped space on the inside. At least i THINK it's in the same building as the one we went to. We just didn't have the energy to plow through the crowd. But no worries, Shah and i will definitely come back here to do more exploring.
By this time, we had gotten hungry and tired. We decided to go to a cafe for hot drinks and something to alas perut with. We ended up choosing this one:
Shah ordered the chocolat chaud (hot chocolate) and i got the cafe au lait (coffee with milk). This cafe actually named them something fancier, but i can't remember now.
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| Mine had a huge mound of whipped cream on top, yay |
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| Shah looking super handsome |
We were ravenous but didn't want to ruin our appetite for dinner, so we had Nutella crepes with our hot drinks. Mak was right, the crepes are available everywhere. I would like them more if they were crispy, but so far the ones i've eaten are soft. Boh-ring. I'll make my own crispy crepes one day soon.
Shah asked for plain water; when the lady brought these, i immediately smiled, remembering the time my girlfriends and i went to eat dinner at Plan B in Paradigm mall and the plain water was served in "lab beakers". This is similar to that, except there's a print on this one.
Alhamdulillah, perut pun dah kenyang after this. We went outside to take more photos of the front of the cafe.
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| A question that gets asked all the time: how do Parisians stay slim? I DO NOT KNOW. I mean, baguettes and cheese! And i only buy cheeses from the supermarket, but even those are good enough!!! |
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| All the delicious carbs - how? HOW??? |
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| Shah secretly taking my photos, but then i perasan alreadyyy |
After perut dah kenyang, we went back to H&M, partly because, biasalah, typical me, tak puas hati tak beli apape from H&M. We braved the crowd again. In the end, Shah picked out a cardigan for me and i bought myself a handbag. Shah was an absolute darling that day, he went around the store with me patiently, shared his views with me. I sound like this when i shop, "Ni cantik ke tu cantik?", "You rasa ni cute tak?" or "Kalau i pakai ni, nampak leher tak? Ke leher dia besar sangat?" and many more, so it's always helpful to have someone else with me when i shop, and Shah is my favourite shopping partner, because he's extremely helpful and generous with comments. I go crazy and purchase everything when i'm by myself (which is nice too, of course) but we are in Europe so we should save money. Or try to save as much as we can, at least. Me not shopping was never an option. Shah married me knowing that, don't worry.
We were then ready to go home, but not before stopping to take photos of Paris Opera House.
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| There are others who do stop to stare at the Opera house like we did, obvs tourists |
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| But mostly pass by it like they see it everyday, which of course they do. And that tall pakcik stopped to look at me (and smirk at me too maybe) for enthusiastically taking photos |
I would definitely want to come back here and walk around the Opera house. I've seen photos of the other sides of it, and they all look so pretty, so i def want to see for myself.
By the way, it IS true that people in Paris always always always dress in neutrals. There's only a handful who dare to wear super bright things. Like tourists, maybe. Like a certain tourist wearing a burnt orange top and blue tudung.
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| The man in green jeans (i want. H&M didn't have my size in that shade) doesn't really count, as coloured pants are totes in now and it's everywhere, but mostly muted brights. That green is quite muted kan |
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| See what i mean about people here not wearing colours? It's a mass of blacks |
Jalan-jalan pun kena ingat sembahyang, OK! So by now we really were ready to go home, but we weren't done for the day. After Maghrib and resting for a bit, we headed back out to Mama's place for dinner. Of course!
This time Mama had plated the food for us to eat in his own apartment.
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| Seghonok, tapi control emotions sebab Sheh amik gambar |
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| Syiok OK. By the way, why have i never eaten brussel sprouts in my life? They're amazinggg |
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| This time, the puffs had meat in them. But no chilli still. But still delish! |
After dinner, we watched a video of Mama's house in India. And i got to see in the video of Shah's relatives that we never knew existed. Which is ridiculous, of course his father has got a whole load of family in India, it' just that we never thought about it.
OK, until next! xxoo